Higher Education Resources Research Articles

Exploring the Perception of the Impact of Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) in the Generative AI Era in Engineering Education

Objective: This study explores students' perceptions of using Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) in the era of generative artificial intelligence as a learning resource in higher education. The specific objectives are: 1) to determine the current tools that students incorporate into their PLEs and 2) to identify students' perceptions of the use of PLEs for lifelong learning. Theoretical Framework: UNESCO and other institutions recognize lifelong learning as an essential competency for personal and professional development. Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) are considered effective tools for promoting self-directed learning, allowing students to manage their learning processes, especially with the advent of generative artificial intelligence technologies. Method: A qualitative study was conducted with 207 first-semester engineering students from a public university in Peru. Participants were introduced to a training program to develop their PLEs using various digital tools, including generative AI tools such as ChatGPT DALL-E. The instrument used to evaluate students' perceptions was the MUSIC model (Jones, 2009), which focuses on empowerment and usefulness. Results: The results indicate that more than 80% of the students positively perceive PLEs, considering them valuable and empowering tools for achieving their learning objectives. Integrating generative AI tools into PLEs is notable, as it provides a dynamic and personalized learning experience. Most students found PLEs helpful for their future and relevant for promoting lifelong learning skills. Research Implications: The research suggests that PLEs, especially when integrated with generative AI tools, positively impact self-directed learning and promote collaborative and social learning. These findings can inform the development of educational programs and policies that encourage using PLEs as a student-centered learning strategy. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the understanding of the role of PLEs in the context of higher education and generative artificial intelligence. It is one of the first studies to examine students' perceptions of using PLEs with generative AI tools, highlighting their potential to enhance learning autonomy and personalization.

Transmitting knowledge and fostering skills: An exploration of factors influencing student growth and development

ABSTRACT This study investigates the factors influencing student growth and development, focusing on effective resources for graduation and post-graduation. An online questionnaire was administered to 323 college students in China, and the data were analyzed using statistical methods. Convergent validity was applied to assess the reliability and validity of factors, while structural equation modeling (SEM) explored the relationships between variables. The study emphasizes the role of teaching, learning, research, extension activities, and innovation in enhancing student development, particularly in career and entrepreneurship. The findings reveal that pedagogical content knowledge, content knowledge, and student satisfaction significantly impact student growth, highlighting the importance of utilizing effective resources in higher education.

Implementation of Semester Examinations in the Digital Age, Opportunities and Challenges

The demand to apply digital technology is a must for all elements of education in higher education. Almost all higher education tri-dharma activities are carried out using digital technology. The implementation of semester exams both online and offline is carried out along with the use of online learning media such as E-Learning, Classroom, Whatsapp, etc. There is also a special application for final assessment so that student test scores are calculated using the application. The problem is how prepared the resources in higher education are in using digital technology. This research aims to analyse the opportunities and challenges in conducting semester exams using digital technology. The research method uses qualitative methods with a post-positivism paradigm. Data were obtained from direct observation and in-depth interviews with relevant informants. The results of the study show that the opportunities for conducting semester exams using digital technology are the ease of implementation and the achievement of effectiveness and efficiency. While the challenge is the fulfilment of the factors that support the readiness of all resources so that the implementation of the semester exams can run smoothly.

Researching the Everyday Educational Lives of Low-Income Families: The Importance of Researcher and Participant Contexts

ABSTRACT This paper highlights the importance of considering both researcher and participant contexts when exploring everyday educational lives. It emerges during a period of increasing and sustained social inequality in England, and against a backdrop of increasingly tight research timeframes and resources in higher education. Drawing on a project engaging low-income families in Greater London, the paper takes the everyday as its conceptual focus and questions how we can be critically attentive to everyday educational lives if we struggle to access and develop research relationships with particular social groups. We offer empirical insight into the hesitancies towards, and avoidances of, research participation that centre around knowledge, fear, and trust, and which are heightened concerns where aspects of family life, parenting, and children come to the fore. The paper considers how these can be mitigated in an academic environment where limited time and resourcing shape possibilities of research engagements and offers practical moves linked to research relationships, relevance and presence for how researchers can address these challenges to enable research to be more inclusive.

Pre-Service Teachers’ Inclination Towards the Utilization of Cloud-Based Technologies

By harnessing the power of 21st-century, the use of cloud computing resources in higher education has emerged as a hot area for deploying innovative technologies in teaching and learning. Accordingly, the core objective of the present study is to analyze the inclination towards the utilization of cloud-based technologies among pre-service teachers in the present digital environment. Based on studies reviewed, a research model was developed with five usability factors - perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived security, frequency of usage, and behavior intention. Quantitative survey method was used to collect data among 252 pre-service teachers in Karaikudi locality. Factor Analysis, Percentage Analysis, Pearson Correlation Analysis, Multiple Linear Regression Analysis were employed for data analysis Statistical analysis of the data indicates that pre-service teachers exhibit a favorable inclination towards using cloud-based technologies with a moderate extent, which is predominantly influenced by perceived ease of use. It is evident from the present study that pedagogical approaches need to change for successful integration of technology in future classrooms and for the development of sustainable educational practices.

Synergy of higher education resources and digital infrastructure construction in China: Regional differences, dynamic evolution and trend forecasting.

The deep integration of higher education with digital technology represents an inevitable trend, and evaluating the interplay between higher education resources (HER) and digital infrastructure construction (DIC) holds significant value for advancing the development of digital higher education and mitigating regional disparities in China. This study establishes two comprehensive evaluation frameworks for HER and DIC. Panel data from 31 provinces, spanning the period from 2011 to 2020, are utilized for analysis. The coupling coordination degree (CCD) model is employed in this work to evaluate the synergy between HER and DIC in China. Furthermore, we analyze the regional differences, spatial distribution, and trend evolution of this synergy. The study results revealed that there is an initial decrease followed by an increase in the synergy between HER and DIC, and the overall CCD is at a moderate coordination, with the mean CCD of the eastern region being significantly higher than that of the other three regions, and the inter-regional difference is the main source of regional disparity in this synergy. The current state of synergistic development reveals a slight inclination towards multi-polarization, although the disparity in regional development was decreasing. Additionally, there is an observed convergence in the coordinated development of HER and DIC, with spatial factors playing a significant role. These findings offer empirical support for efforts to enhance the integration of HER and DIC, reduce regional disparities in higher education, and foster sustainable development in China's higher education sector.

Open Educational Resources in Higher Education: Exploring Access in Resource-constrained Contexts

This special issue is focused on the topic of open educational resources (OER).

Building the "Erasmus+ Program" of Beijing: Taking the Beijing higher education joint cultivation program as an example

In the cross-region, cross-domain and cross-culture educational practices of cultivating composite high-quality talents with innovation, inclusiveness and understanding, the "Erasmus+ program" in Europe provides us with an excellent sample. Compared to "Erasmus+ program", the "Beijing Higher Education Joint Cultivation Program" has achieved significant results in fully activating Beijing's higher education resources, cultivating innovative high-level talents, strengthening much more cooperation among participated universities, and providing comprehensive services for Beijing's higher education reform and social-economic development. Both from the perspective of urban development positioning and the trend of higher education development, the implementation of Beijing Higher Education Joint Cultivation Program in the future should continue to innovate on the dimensions of mobility building, higher education capacity building, and regional higher education integration, and truly create an innovative brand of higher education in Beijing.

Investigating the impact of the Internet of Things on higher education: a systematic literature review

PurposeThe Internet of things (IoT), an emerging research field, offers solutions to several problems and may result in a paradigm shift in various areas, including education. However, this approach has been under-utilised. Therefore, this research investigates and highlights the primary factors that influence the impact of the IoT on education and reveals the current state of academic research to manage higher education (HE) resources effectively and efficiently.Design/methodology/approachData from 35 academic papers were collected and analysed to understand the current situation and assess the readiness of HE to adopt IoT. A literature review is a well-established method for developing knowledge and interpreting issues under consideration. This study systematically analysed the various research methodologies used to adopt IoT, summarising the content of the studies and highlighting the main factors that may affect IoT adoption in HE.FindingsThe authors examined 95 papers; 35 were investigated and analysed. The literature review and analysis of academic papers revealed the factors influencing the adoption of IoT technology in HE.Originality/valueBy examining the evidence, this study contributes to understanding the context and supplements existing research. It conducts a systematic literature review to assess the impact of the IoT on the educational process, proposes future research directions and presents findings that aid the efficient management of HE resources.

Racial challenges and finding meaning in ethnic identity: ethnic-racial socialization experiences of indigenous college students in Taiwan’s higher education

ABSTRACT The culturally diverse higher education settings is conceptualized to facilitate indigenous university students in Taiwan to establish a deeper connection with and understand the meaning of their ethnic identity. Guided by the ethnic identity development theory and school ethnic-racial socialization framework, we asked two research questions: (1) What racial challenges did indigenous students in Taiwan experience at their colleges? (2) How did students utilize college resources to overcome racial challenges and develop a meaningful sense of ethnic identity? A participatory research approach using narrative inquiry was employed (N = 20). Convenience sampling and thematic analysis were adopted. Six themes emerged. Racial challenges were: (1) intergroup discrimination; (2) internal stratification; (3) ethnic identity confusion. Social resources in higher education were: (4) confronting discrimination together; (5) peer appraisal support and encouragement; (6) multicultural social interactions. Research, practice, and policy implications were discussed.

The use of Instagram as a teaching resource in Higher Education

The use of Instagram as a teaching resource in Higher Education

The use of Instagram as a teaching resource in higher education

The use of Instagram as a teaching resource in higher education

Parecer A de “Opening the horizons for education: reflections on repositories of open educational resources in higher education”

Parecer A de “Opening the horizons for education: reflections on repositories of open educational resources in higher education”

Cinema as a pedagogical practice in higher education: a case study applied to labour law*

The aim of this article is to discuss the use of cinema as a pedagogical resource in higher education in the legal field and, more specifically, in the teaching of labour law. It emphasises the importance of multimedia resources, focused on art and aesthetics, as an aggregating element for the formation of a humanist conscience that is essential in legal training. The purpose of this pedagogical practice is to use cinema as a means of reflecting on labour relations, starting from the reality portrayed and grasping the reality of each era. By watching and analyzing films, the objective is to study labour law and encourage social reflection (Russell, 2009). There are two general objectives: to provide a reflection on the evolution of Labour Law and to raise awareness of the reality of labour relations. The specific objectives are to use cinema as a teaching tool and to discuss film narrative and its different components.

Self-regulation of resources in higher education

Abstract: Resource-management learning strategies are particularly important for performance in higher education. Despite this consideration, the current state of research still lacks evidence on the precise interplay of the different learning process components that affect academic performance. The aim of the present study was to test a mediation model derived from process theories of self-regulated learning, in which students' knowledge about resource-management strategies impacts their academic performance via its behavioural manifestations. N = 106 university students took part in an online course over the period of one semester. Students' resource-management strategy knowledge was assessed at the beginning of the semester, and their use of resource-management strategies was observed via log data of their learning behaviour during the semester while learning through the online course. Academic performance was assessed on the basis of an exam at the end of the semester. The mediation model was tested for three different resource-management strategies: time management, effort regulation, and help seeking. There was a significant indirect effect of strategy knowledge via strategy use on academic performance for all learning strategies considered. We conclude that students' strategic learning behaviour is an indispensable link in the relationship between their strategy knowledge and academic performance, and discuss implications for research and training practice.

Big Five Personality Traits Among Lecturers and Job Satisfaction: A Case Study of Private Universities in Bogor City

Personality is a unique psychological aspect possessed by each individual and describes how the individual communicates with his environment. In the context of this research, we will focus on the five main dimensions of personality that are often considered, namely extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability, and openness to experience. Understanding how these big five personality dimensions can influence lecturer job satisfaction can provide valuable insights for the management and development of human resources in higher education. This research uses a descriptive verification type, where analytical testing is obtained through a representation of the characteristics of several research variables. Thus, the main aim of this research is to explore more deeply the relationship between personality and job satisfaction of lecturers in higher education with SEM-Lisrel 8.8.

An Eight-Week Zen Meditation and Music Programme for Mindfulness and Happiness: Qualitative Content Analysis

Mental wellness can be related to healthier living, the learning process and working environments for people in the university community. A wide range of mental wellness programmes have been explored to provide students with pleasant and satisfying experiences. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of integrating Zen meditation and music listening on the mindfulness and happiness levels of university music therapy students. A qualitative methodology was used, and data were collected through surveys and semi-structured interviews. To investigate various aspects of data regarding the role of the meditation and music (MM) programme for mindfulness and happiness, this study used thematic analysis within a qualitative research design. The findings of this study suggest that the 8-week Mindfulness Meditation (MM) programme is a potential approach for enhancing mindfulness, happiness and stress management. These results carry broader implications, particularly in terms of supporting mental health resources in higher education. Furthermore, the study contributes to the ongoing discussion regarding the positive impact of combining meditation and music to promote mental well-being. This integrated approach has the potential to strengthen coping strategies and further promote the integration of music and meditation practices in various contexts, including higher education.

The Future of Higher Education: Implementation of Virtual and Augmented Reality in the Educational Process

The introduction of VR and AR into the higher education is a particularly interesting phenomenon for the education of the future. Thus, the aim of the study was to determine the impact of using VR and AR as a possible strategy to enhance teaching in higher education institutions and as a replacement for outdated teaching methods. Virtual and augmented realities are tools that enable dynamic training in a virtual environment by facilitating the management of its components. Virtual immersion in the process of the information comprehension allows students exploring complex environments and situations by manipulating the elements that make up the environment. The purpose of this study is to analyse the introduction of VR and AR in the learning process as a favourable area of the development of higher education. The analysis of the relevance and effectiveness of virtual artefacts in higher education was obtained using the following methods: a literature review was used in the research to systematically gather, analyse, and synthesize existing published literature on the topic. The next stage was the observation, data analysis and interpretation. The results of the work were obtained through a double analysis. First, the state of the art of the related literature was investigated, and second, the impact on students was assessed, offering an innovative alternative to traditional teaching methods at the pedagogical faculties where the observation was conducted. Search engines revealed 2300 articles on the use of VR and AR in higher education. As a result of the selection and verification process, only 50 state-of-the-art sources from 2018-2023 were selected (taking into account the scientific novelty of the topic). An observation of students obtained data to evaluate the implementation of resources in higher education by key elements: motivation, design, and collaboration. The question of whether the use of educational artefacts in VR and AR is applicable in the perspective of higher education and the values that should guide their strategy is revealed. Conclusions present the scientific and students’ opinion in terms of the implementation of VR and AR in higher education. This research questions are revealed, the advantages and disadvantages, concepts and paradigms in this area are identified. The position on the significance of VR and AR as a pedagogical instrument is presented.

Socially-Just Disability Resources in Higher Education: An Appreciative Inquiry

Abstract: To replace the current professional paradigm of higher education disability resources, socially-just disability resources emerged as the next step for the field to progress relative to creating experiences for students with disabilities that are not only accessible and equitable but also socially-just. Overall, descriptions of socially-just disability resources take the social model approach a step further by directly mobilizing disability resource professionals to organize for greater change in higher education to holistically address barriers with an ideal outcome of reducing the need for accommodations altogether. However, because this is a novel framework, there is a paucity of research regarding its implementation. The purpose of this study was to understand what the ideal implementation of socially just disability resources would entail and how these practices can be sustained. Following a review of the findings from an appreciative inquiry initiative conducted with one disability resource center, implications are discussed.

Intersectional Praxis and Disability in Higher Education

This article explores whether intersectional praxis can be discerned in the provision of disability/accessibility resources in higher education in Sweden and the United States. Analysing interviews with administrative staff based on hypothetical scenarios (vignettes) that could qualify as situations of disability discrimination, this article identifies several situations of (missed) opportunities for intersectional praxis. It then proceeds with a discussion of participants’ conceptions of disability and organisational possibilities for collaborations with other offices at their university or college. Although opportunities for intersectional praxis are generally absent or missed in both countries, the article argues that American participants were closer to such critical praxis because they tended to consider disability in terms of barriers and as a structural issue, and advocated for the recognition of disability as diversity. By contrast, the Swedish participants seemed further away from an intersectional praxis because they tended to view disability as a difficulty that requires individualised support measures and as a situational issue regarding the learning environment. The article proposes that these differences are connected to differences regarding disability and anti‐discrimination politics in both countries. In the US, disability politics have been characterised by a civil rights and social justice approach, while in Sweden disability politics have been conceived in terms of welfare services and a relational approach to disability. This article concludes that the conception of intersectionality as a critical praxis offers an original lens to gain new insights into how disability inclusion is promoted in different contexts.